Pubs firm Greene King has warned that drinkers could be knocking back fewer pints in the future following the Brexit vote as consumer confidence takes a hit.

Blue-chip sharesin the UK began the week on the front foot today as investors shrugged off an 8% plunge in the Chinese stock market overnight.

British brewing company Greene King has been given an extension — until close of business on Tuesday — to formally show its hand in the takeover battle for UK bar group, Spirit Pub Company.

British bar owner, Spirit Pub Company has rejected an initial takeover bid — believed to be around €900m — from Irish drinks giant, C&C Group.

UK pub chains looking to expand into Ireland, along with providers of electronic goods, clothing and footwear, are likely to be the most active players in the Irish retail property market this year, according to property consultancy, Savills.

Loch Fyne and Hungry Horse owner Greene King toasted higher profits today as it pulled in recession-hit customers with a broad range of promotions.

Fears that the European Central Bank will fail to prescribe the medicine needed for the ailing eurozone triggered big losses on London's leading shares index today.

More than £3bn (€3.75bn) was wiped off Barclays’ market value today as its rate-rigging scandal sent shockwaves throughout the banking sector.

BT shares rallied today after it made progress in tackling its pension scheme deficit, but fears about the global recovery continued to weigh on London’s leading shares index.

Travel firms slumped into the red today as fears over political unrest in Egypt hit blue chip stocks.

London’s FTSE 100 Index sunk into the red today as political unrest in Egypt hit sentiment and sent travel stocks lower.

Shares pressure in the retail sector weighed on the FTSE 100 Index today as a mixed session on Wall Street also hit stocks.

A two-day rally on the London market came to an end today as traders waited for key economic data from the US.

THE travel sector will be in sharp focus this week when tour operators TUI Travel and Thomas Cook deliver full-year results, with figures also due from two players in the pub market.

London's FTSE 100 Index plunged more than 2% into the red today as recovery fears sent stock markets reeling worldwide.

The London market tumbled 1% today as miners continued to be weighed down by fears over potential curbs to Chinese growth.

Fears that the US Federal Reserve will soon consider raising interest rates put world markets under fresh strain today.

London’s FTSE 100 Index jumped 1.5% today as worries over the global impact of the Dubai debt crisis showed signs of easing.

World markets were under pressure today as uncertainty about Chinese economic prospects led investors to take profits following a recent rally.

Oil firms propped up the London market today after the FTSE 100 Index slumped on Thursday due to downbeat housing market data from the United States.

The London market slipped into losses today after a big jump in US oil supplies fuelled concerns over weak energy demand.

The London market reached another high for the year today as rising gold prices boosted miners and more merger news added to positive sentiment.

Stocks rebounded out of the red today on hopes that the worst of the recession may be over on both sides of the Atlantic.

Shock US jobs data sent the London market diving into the red today as gloom gathered over trading floors.

Grim annual figures from British Airways plunged the stock into the red today as the airline's woes overshadowed more stable trading elsewhere.

Banks stormed ahead in trading today pulling the London market up to strong gains.

Heightened volatility continued in the banking sector today with Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland shares see-sawing in another tough session for the sector.

The FTSE 100 Index pulled out of its tailspin today after earlier diving below the 4000 barrier.

The FTSE 100 Index slid more than 2% today as some miserable high street results did nothing to ease fears of a looming UK recession.

Persistent fears over the economy and weaker metal prices dragged the London market more than 2% into the red today.

Travel companies including Thomas Cook and British Airways were flying high today as oil prices dived to a four-month low.

Banks led the FTSE 100 Index deep into the red today after a gloomy note on the sector from investment bank Morgan Stanley.

Financial stocks took a fresh hammering today after investment bank Morgan Stanley issued a downbeat note on the sector.

British pub chain Greene King overcame rising costs and the smoking ban to deliver profits growth of 7% in the first six months of its financial year today.

A shares rebound from embattled mortgage specialist Alliance & Leicester helped the London market bank a second day of gains today.

Pubs and brewing group Greene King today toasted buoyant beer sales as the firm said it was on track to meet full-year profits targets.

Scottish seafood dining chain Loch Fyne looked set for expansion today after pubs chain Greene King reeled in the business for £68.1m (€99.9m).

Pub groups and mining stocks led a rally on the London market today, adding to the boost from an overnight surge on Wall Street.

The London market was on the front foot today buoyed by strong gains in the US overnight.

The UK's biggest pubs company, Punch Taverns, today sold a collection of 869 pubs to rival Admiral Taverns.

Property companies helped lift the London market today, with real estate investment trust Hammerson setting the pace after takeover speculation.

The London market continued to be dogged by uncertainty after a session of fluctuating fortunes today.

Retail stocks soared today after three buy-out groups confirmed their interest in an offer for supermarket chain Sainsbury’s.

Retail shares were sent soaring today by confirmation of private equity interest in a possible takeover bid for supermarket group Sainsbury’s.

The London market ran out of steam today as British Airways and the operator of the UK’s biggest coal-fired power station both sustained heavy losses.

Takeover speculation fuelled shares in the London Stock Exchange (LSE) today as the market staged a late recovery to finish in positive territory.

The FTSE 100 Index held firm today in a lacklustre session for shares in London as markets in the United States closed for the Independence Day holiday.

The FTSE 100 Index retreated from its six-week high today as the market lost momentum with the Independence Day break in the US.

Investors returned to the London market today in anticipation of the next round of cross-border takeover activity.

Rentokil Initial led the FTSE 100 Index to a positive finish today after news of a possible takeover offer sent its shares surging.